Article arranging and transfer mechanism



Oct. 24, 1950 R. E. WAlT ARTICLE ARRANGING AND TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Jan. 5, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

M w w MM & @M M Patented Oct. 24, 1950 lffumes;ismtj PATE OFFICE it narloLE fizliligAND TRANSFE? a MECHANISM I Robert E. ,Wait, Hastings. Mich assignor to Hastings ;Manufacturing,Company, Hastings,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application January 3, 1949, Serial No. 68,998

This invention relates to improvements machines for feeding containers to a feed belt of a filling machine or the like.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide a feed table for conveyers which permits the emptying of a carton of receptacles or containers upon the feed table and the alignment and delivery thereof to a conveyerbelt without handling the containers and with little effort on the part of the operator.

Second to provide a feed table structure whic may be readily adapted to filling machines and the like now in -use..

Objects relating .to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims. I

' A preferred embodiment of the invention is il-" lustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a structure embodying my invention, a plurality of containers beingconventionally shown upon the table, conveyer, and in" feed position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawing the frame of a filling machine or the like is indicated by the.

which are not shown.

' The feed table 5 is arranged with. its top in the plane of the top reach-of the'belt 3 as shown-in Fig. 3 and is recessed at 6 to receive theforward end of the belt. Therear side rails 1 of the conveyer' extends forwardly beyond the front end of' the belt to provide a rear work guide 8 for the table. The front conveyer side rail 9 terminates in substantially spaced relation to the front end' of the belt and a stop bar I0 is mounted on the table transversely of the belt with its inner end adjacent the front end of the front rail 9.

The transfer slide II is slidably mounted by means of the slide rod l2 slidable in a bearing [3 so that the transfer slide is adapted by manual manipulation to push a row of containers transversely upon the belt and against the rear guide rail in which position they are picked up by the belt "and. carried to the .filling machine. It is common practice for containers for liquid, which are commonly of tin, to be packed in cartons by the manufacturer for convenience in handling, a commerciali'size of such; carton holding 2 51.0011- tainers. These are commonly packed with the roams; (o1.19s 24) spouts downward so that when the carton is opened the containers may be discharged in up right position or if not thus packed the bottom ofthecarton is opened.v With the apparatus of my invention the cartton of containersv is discharged upon the table in; advance of the front end of the belt as shown in Fig. 1 and they are ordinarily in a more or less irregular position as indicated. So far as applicant is aware it has heretofore been the practice; forthe operator to align these upon the table. with thehands which required much handlingv and,;many motions. To facilitate alignment of, the group of containers discharged upon the; table; I provide an aligning or front guide bar l4, which is pivotally mounted at l5 to swing above; the table, the pivot mounting l5 being positioned, in alignment with the transfer slide II when it isin its retracted position as shown in Fig. 1. The swinging of this aligning or front guide bar to theposition shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, pushes the rear .row of containers on the table; against the rear guide rail 8. v 4 v With the containers thus positioned, the feed slide [6 is manually actuated, it being provided, with. a handle IT. This feed slide is slidably; mounted on the slide rod 8 mounted on the table. atthe rear of the guide rail 8. The slide is slot; ted at l9 to receive the aligning bar or front side bar I4, the inner end of the slot 20 constituting; a stop sothat excessive pressure cannot be put} on the containers. With the group of containers; on the table thus aligned, the feed slide is oper-..-. ated and pushes the rear row of containers, on. the table endwise upon the belt and the other. containers of the group are aligned against the;- stop bar Ill in front of the transfer slide I l which; is provided with a hand piece 2 I. When the conveyer belt has translated the row; of containers pushed endwise thereon to clear aspace in front of the slide II, the slide is actu-, ated to push a row of containers transversely upon the belt and against the rear rail 1. This arrangement of parts enables an operator to keep the conveyer fully supplied with containers which. is important as if the supply of containers to, the filling'machine is interrupted it is necessary? to stop the filling machine or the filling mechanism and its cycle'of operation is interrupted.

I,have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. The mechanism is simple and economical to produce and. at the sametime is efficient. for the purpose. Havingthusdescribed my invention, what I; claim as new and desire to secure by Letters;

Patent is: '.1..In afstructure of the class described, the; combination with a conveyer comprising a belt and rear and front side rails operatively assoc,i--'. ated therewith, of a feed table recessed to receive the front end of the front conveyer rail, a trans:

fer slide mounted for reciprocation above the table in front of the stop barjandtransversely of the belt to deliver work thereto, a feed slide mounted to reciprocate longitudinally of the table, and a front side bar pivotally supported at its rear end adjacent to and in substantial alignment with the transfer slide when it is in its retracted position, the said front side bar being swingable to facilitate placing work on the table and tofacilitate the alignment thereof for advancement of the feed slide.

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a conveyor comprising a belt and rear and front side rails operatively associated therewith, of a feed table disposed at the front end of the belt and having a part extending at the front side thereof, a rear work guide for said table, the front side rail terminating in substantially spaced relation to the front end of the belt, a stop bar. disposed transversely of the belt in spaced relation to its front end, a transfer slide mounted forward of the stop bar for reciprocation transversely of the belt to deliver work thereto, a feed slide mounted to reciprocate longitudinally of the table, and a front work guide for the table pivotally supported at its rear end in substantial alignment with the transfer slide when it is in itsretracted position, the said front guide being swingable to facilitate placing work on the table and the alignment thereof for advancement by the feed slide.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a conveyer comprising a belt and rear and front side rails operatively associated therewith, of a feed table disposed at the front end of the belt and having a part extending at the front side thereof, a rear work guide for said table, a stop bar disposed transversely of the belt in spaced relation to its front end, a transfer slide mounted forward of the stop bar for reciprocation transversely of the belt to deliver work thereto, a feed slide mounted to reciprocate longitudinally of the table, and a front work guide for the table pivotally supported at its rear end in substantial alignment with the transfer slide when it is in its retracted position, the said front guide being swingable to facilitate placing work on the table and the aligmnent thereof for advancement by the feed slide.

4. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a conveyer comprising a belt and rear and front side rails operatively associated therewith along the opposite sides thereof, of a feed table disposed at the front end of the belt and having a part extending at the front side thereof, a rear work guide for said table, the front side rail terminating in substantially spaced relation to the front end of the belt and to the front end of the rear side rail, a stop bar disposed transversely of the belt in spaced relation to its front end, a transfer slide mounted forward of the stop bar for reciprocation transversely of the belt to deliver work thereto forward the front end of the front side rail'and in opposed relation to the rear side rail, a feed slide mounted to reciprocate longitudinally of the table.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination of afeed table, a conveyer comprising a belt disposed with its rearwardly moving delivery reach in the plane of the table to re- .ceive work therefrom, a rear rail extending longitudinally of the table and positioned to align work for delivery to the front end of the belt, a stop bar positioned transversely of the belt in spaced relation to its front end, a transfer slide mounted forward of the stop bar and reciprocable transversely of the belt to deliver work supported by the table to the belt, a feed slide mounted to reciprocate longitudinally of the table, and an adjustable front work guide for guiding work to said transfer slide when it is in its retracted position and retractable to facilitate placing work on the table in advance of the feed slide.

6. The combination of a conveyer comprising a belt, a table disposed to extend forwardly of the forward end of the belt and at the side of the front portion of the belt, a rear conveyer side rail disposed at the rear of the belt and extending forwardly beyond the front end of the belt to constitute a work guide, a stop bar disposed tramversely of the belt in spaced relation to its front end, a front conveyer rail disposed with its front end adjacent the inner end of said stop bar, a transfer slide mounted forward of the stop bar to reciprocate above the table transversely to the path of travel of the belt for transferring work from the table sidewise upon the belt, a feed slide, a slide way therefor mounted at the rear .of the rear conveyer side rail, said feed slide being provided with a slot extending longitudinally thereof in its outer end, and a front work guide for the table pivotally mounted at its rear end adjacent the'front end of the transfer slide when it is in retracted position, the front end of said front work guide being disposed through said slot in said feed slide, the inner end of which constitutes a stop.

'7. The combination of a conveyer comprising a belt, a table disposed to extend forwardly of the forward end of the belt and at the side of the front portion of the belt, a rear conveyer side rail disposed at the rear of the belt and extending forwardly beyond the front end of the belt to constitute a work guide, a stop bar disposed transversely of the belt in spaced relation to its front end, a front conveyer rail disposed with its front end adjacent the inner end of said stop bar, a transfer slide mounted forward of the stop bar to reciprocate above the table tranversely to the path of travel of the belt for transferring work from the table sidewise upon the belt, a feed slide, a slide way therefor mounted at the rear of the rear conveyer side rail, said feed slide being provided with a slot extending longitudinally thereof in its outer end, and an adjustable front work guide for the table having the front end thereof disposed through said slot.

ROBERT E. WAIT.

REFERENCES CITED flhe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS ssss m 

